Self-evacuating dental dam

Abstract

A fluid evacuating dental dam is disclosed, the fluid evacuating dental dam including a manifold having at least one aperture formed therein, a dental dam selectively attached to the manifold, a suction device in fluid communication with the manifold, and selectively removable cover members disposed over the aperture of the manifold.

I claim: 
     
       1. A fluid evacuating dental dam for working on teeth comprising:
 a manifold having a first end and a second end, and a pair of substantially linear portions and at least one aperture formed in one of the linear portions, each of the pair of linear portions configured to be disposed immediately adjacent to an area to be worked on with the at least one aperture disposed adjacent to the area and the curved portion configured to be disposed posterior of an area to be worked on; 
 a dental dam adhered to each of the substantially linear portions of the manifold with an adhesive thereby providing stability in the dental dam to minimize a tearing thereof, the manifold adhered to and disposed on an underside of the dental dam, wherein the dental dam is adapted to be selectively perforated to provide an aperture to isolate the area to be worked on from the manifold and areas not to be worked on; 
 a suction device in fluid communication with each end of the manifold; and 
 a frame configured to cooperate with the dental dam to hold the dental dam taut, wherein the dental dam is disposed between the frame and the manifold. 
 
     
     
       2. The fluid evacuating dental dam of  claim 1 , further comprising a removable cover member disposed over the at least one aperture of the manifold, wherein the cover member is a selectively removable tab adhered to the manifold. 
     
     
       3. The fluid evacuating dental dam of  claim 1 , further comprising a removable cover member disposed over the at least one aperture of the manifold, wherein the cover member is a selectively removable plug disposed in the at least one aperture. 
     
     
       4. The fluid evacuating dental dam of  claim 1 , further comprising a removable cover member disposed over the at least one aperture of the manifold, wherein the cover member is a fluid permeable sheath slidably disposed over the at least one aperture. 
     
     
       5. The fluid evacuating dental dam of  claim 4 , wherein the cover member is formed from a foam material. 
     
     
       6. The fluid evacuating dental dam of  claim 1 , wherein the manifold has a substantially u-shape including a pair of substantially linear portions connected by a curved portion. 
     
     
       7. The fluid evacuating dental dam of  claim 1 , wherein the linear portions of the manifold are disposed on the same side of the dental dam. 
     
     
       8. The fluid evacuating dental dam of  claim 1 , wherein another aperture is formed in the curved portion. 
     
     
       9. The fluid evacuating dental dam of  claim 1 , wherein the manifold includes at least one indicia of where an aperture may be formed. 
     
     
       10. The fluid evacuating dental dam of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one indicia is a dimple. 
     
     
       11. The fluid evacuating dental dam of  claim 1 , wherein the frame is formed separately from the manifold. 
     
     
       12. A fluid evacuating dental dam for working on teeth comprising:
 a manifold having a substantially u-shape including a pair of substantially linear portions connected by a curved portion and a plurality of apertures formed therein, each of the pair of linear portions configured to be disposed immediately adjacent to an area to be worked on and the curved portion configured to be disposed posterior of an area to be worked on, wherein least one of the apertures is formed in one of the substantially linear portions and at least one other of the apertures is formed in the curved portion; 
 a dental dam adhered to each of the substantially linear portions of the manifold with an adhesive thereby providing stability in the dental dam to minimize a tearing thereof, the linear portions of the manifold disposed on the same side of the dental dam, and wherein the dental dam is adapted to be selectively perforated to provide an aperture to isolate the area to be worked on from the manifold and areas not to be worked on; and 
 a frame configured to cooperate with the dental dam to hold the dental dam taut, wherein the dental dam is disposed between the frame and the manifold. 
 
     
     
       13. The fluid evacuating dental dam of  claim 12 , wherein the frame is formed separately from the manifold. 
     
     
       14. The fluid evacuating dental dam of  claim 12 , further comprising a removable cover member disposed over the at least one aperture of the manifold, wherein the cover member is a selectively removable tab adhered to the manifold. 
     
     
       15. The fluid evacuating dental dam of  claim 12 , further comprising a removable cover member disposed over the at least one aperture of the manifold, wherein the cover member is a selectively removable plug disposed in the at least one aperture. 
     
     
       16. The fluid evacuating dental dam of  claim 12 , further comprising a removable cover member disposed over the at least one aperture of the manifold, wherein the cover member is a fluid permeable sheath slidably disposed over the at least one aperture. 
     
     
       17. The fluid evacuating dental dam of  claim 16 , wherein the cover member is formed from a foam material. 
     
     
       18. The fluid evacuating dental dam of  claim 12 , wherein another aperture is formed in the curved portion. 
     
     
       19. The fluid evacuating dental dam of  claim 12 , wherein the manifold includes at least one indicia of where an aperture may be formed. 
     
     
       20. The fluid evacuating dental dam of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one indicia is a dimple.